Snapshots: Shattenkirk, Nugent-Hopkins, Bobrovsky
As we inch closer to the 2016 NHL Draft, trade speculation continues. Here’s a quick look at what’s being said around the league.
- Michael Russo tweets that the Wild and Oilers might pair up on a deal. Russo speculates that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the likely target for the Wild. David Staples writes that he’s not the biggest fan of this move. While it would yield Mathew Dumba or Jonas Brodin (or possibly both), Staples doesn’t believe it benefits the Oilers in terms of obtaining the puck moving defenseman they need.
- Jimmy Murphy tweets that Kevin Shattenkirk remains a very high priority for several teams. Murphy indicated that the Bruins first round selection (14th overall) might just do the trick. Murphy includes the Red Wings, Rangers, Canadiens, and Coyotes as other possibilities. Joe Haggerty believes the Bruins will ultimately end up with Shattenkirk.
- Kevin Allen writes more about Cam Fowler moving to another team. Allen lists the Red Wings, Canadiens, Bruins, and Sabres as possible landing points. Allen also reports that the Blue Jackets will listen to offers for their 3rd overall pick. Kevin McGran tweeted this as well, adding that Columbus is looking for a proven center.
- Aaron Portzline reports that the Blue Jackets may want to look at offloading goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. The $7.425MM cap hit would be tough to unload on another team without either a weaker return or a willingness to take on some of the salary. Portzline also listed the four goalies who are being shopped: Bobrovsky, Jimmy Howard, Ben Bishop, and Marc-Andre Fleury.
Wild To Buy Out Thomas Vanek
Per a tweet from Michael Russo, the Minnesota Wild will in fact buy out Thomas Vanek‘s contract. CapFriendly tweeted the financial implications, which would include a $1.5MM cap hit in 2016-2017, and a $2.5MM hit in 2017-2018. Russo also reported that the deal would save the Wild $5MM next season and gives them about $14MM in total cap space. TSN’s Bob McKenzie tweeted yesterday that a buyout was very possible.
Vanek’s numbers dipped a bit in the past season, getting 41 points (18-23) in 74 games. Vanek, once a two-time 40 goal scorer with Buffalo, has seen his production fall after signing a 3 year/$19.5MM deal with the Wild prior to the 2014-2015 season. Vanek was counted on to provide consistent goal scoring for Minnesota but only mustered 39 total goals in two seasons. The additional cap room will assist the Wild in trying to find someone to take the role Vanek was expected to fill.
Draft Day Snapshots: Blue Jackets, Predators, Wild, Jets
The 2016 NHL Entry Draft gets underway tonight and one of the top picks appears to be in play. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch spoke with Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen who noted that the team has received at least ten offers for the third overall pick.
Kekalainen is telling teams that he is willing to move the pick but would not slide out of the top ten in any trade. He also has informed them that no trade would be made until they’re on the draft floor after the top two selections are made.
Other draft day rumblings:
- The Nashville Predators could be targeting a defenseman with their first pick in the draft (17th overall), writes Adam Vingan of The Tennessean. While the team does have several strong blueliners already, they did move Seth Jones to Columbus midseason and they have only picked one defender with a first round pick in the last five years. In the same piece, GM David Poile acknowledged that he doesn’t have much interest in moving up or down from pick 17.
- Minnesota holds just two picks in the first six rounds which could make it difficult for the Wild to move up, writes The Star Tribune’s Michael Russo. GM Chuck Fletcher wouldn’t be opposed to trading down from their 15th overall selection to acquire more picks but only if there are a number of players left on their draft board at that time.
- The Winnipeg Jets have put the 22nd overall pick in play, ESPN’s Craig Custance reports. The Jets acquired the selection prior to the trade deadline as part of the Andrew Ladd to Chicago deal. Winnipeg is believed to be seeking a left shot defenseman and a top nine forward.
Latest On Vanek, Wild
The Minnesota Wild appear to be leaning towards buying out winger Thomas Vanek. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that the probability of buying him out over the next couple of days is quite high although nothing has been formalized as of yet.
Vanek struggled in 2015-16, his second year with the Wild. He had just 41 points in 74 games last year, equalling the lowest output of his career (he also had 41 points in 2012-13 but played just 38 games that year). Vanek is owed $7.5MM in salary for 2016-17 with a cap hit of $6.5MM.
If he is bought out, the Wild would have to pay him $5MM over the next two years while carrying cap charges of $1.5MM next season and $2.5MM in 2017-18. The Wild have just over $9MM in cap space according to Cap Friendly and have several restricted free agents to re-sign.
In other Wild news:
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribute reports that GM Chuck Fletcher has been involved in contract talks with pending RFA’s Tyler Graovac and Jason Zucker. He adds that the team intends to sign a veteran goaltender with NHL experience to a two-way deal to start with their AHL affiliate in Iowa.
- Also from McKenzie, the Wild are fielding offers for some of their young defensemen. He suggests a trade of one of their blueliners for a forward is a possibility but isn’t guaranteed.
Coaching Notes: French, Skahan, Lamb
Now that the NHL coaching carousel has ended, lower level leagues are filling their coaching vacancies. Here are the latest coaching developments:
- The Calgary Hitmen have given head coach Mark French a multi-year extension after another successful season. French, the former Calder Cup winning coach of the AHL’s Hershey Bears, is considered an excellent bench boss that would have a few job offers if he decided to head back to the AHL at some point. Blueliner Jake Bean is set to become the latest Hitmen to go in the first round of the NHL draft.
- After spending years with Anaheim and last season with Buffalo, long-time NHL strength and conditioning coach Sean Skahan will be brought on with the Minnesota Wild, Michael Russo reports. He’ll replace the outgoing Kirk Olson, who is yet to sign on with another team.
- Mark Lamb is the new coach of the Tucson Roadrunners, Arizona Coyote’s AHL affiliate. Lamb was the GM and coach of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos, and previously worked under Dave Tippet’s Dallas Stars as an assistant coach. The Roadrunners also hired Mark Hardy as an assistant coach. Hardy previously served as an assistant coach for both the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings.
Wild Notes: Kuemper, Centers, Granlund
After losing in the first round to the Dallas Stars, the Minnesota Wild have turned their attention to next year and the attempt to getting back into the playoffs. Today, GM Chuck Fletcher spoke to reporters and gave some interesting information. In a series of tweets, Chad Graff of the Pioneer Press reports:
- Fletcher was impressed by what he saw from Mikael Granlund on the wing this season, and might go that way again next season. Up until now, Granlund had always been regarded as a center and had performed well in that role. With Charlie Coyle‘s emergence, and Mikko Koivu‘s continued strong play perhaps a slide to the wing is the best fit for the 24-year old playmaker.
- He adds that Granlund’s fit on the wing has prompted a search for a third center, with Fletcher being quoted: “If we can find a guy, we’ll do it.” Presumably this would be in a third line role, something that could probably be found on the cheap in this year’s free agency.
- The team has already begun fielding calls on restricted free agent Darcy Kuemper, though Fletcher admits he’s “a little hesitant” to trade the 26-year old goaltender. Kuemper has performed admirably as the Wild backup for the last few seasons, logging a career .912 save percentage and 2.47 GAA in 84 games.
- Asked about the possibility of buying out Thomas Vanek – something we profiled here on PHR yesterday – Fletcher said “Everything has to be on the table after the season we had.”. Vanek is owed $7.5MM ($6.5 cap-hit) for 2016-17.
- Michael Rand of the Star Tribune adds that while they’ve already had calls on many of their young defencemen, new coach Scott Stevens would love to keep them all. Fletcher seems open to the idea of trading one, saying “We would certainly look at trading from our strength — our defense — for a forward”
Snapshots: Puljujarvi, Lalonde, Backes
With the Entry Draft getting closer and closer, there has been lots of chatter over who will go after Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine go in the top two selections. The expected #3 pick, Jesse Puljujarvi hasn’t exactly helped his stock as Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reported yesterday that the Finnish winger underwent knee surgery after winning gold at the World U-18’s in April. He will be missing all the summer development camps, but should be ready for the regular season. While Columbus wonders what to do with the third overall pick, here’s more from around the league:
- Up-and-coming coaching prospect Derek Lalonde has been hired on as the newest head coach of the Iowa Wild, reports Jeff Cox of ESPN. Lalonde previously coached in both the USHL and ECHL and is considered by many to be a coach on the rise. The Wild, who finished last in the AHL last season were coached by John Torchetti until he moved up to Minnesota after the mid-season firing of Mike Yeo.
- Although they’d be open to a return, it sounds like the St. Louis Blues will not be re-signing captain David Backes. When asked by Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Dispatch, GM Doug Armstrong related as much: “I think the unrestricted guys will most likely hit the open market. We’d like to have David back…but it has to work for both sides, not just one. We’re willing to invest a little bit of ‘thank you’ money, but it has to make sense.”
Free Agent Focus: Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild made the playoffs, kicking and screaming. They lost 5 in a row to end the season before losing their first round series versus the Dallas Stars in 6 games. Head Coach Mike Yeo was fired in February, replaced by John Torchetti.
Cap space: $7.56MM, 15 players under contract
Key RFAs: Defenceman Matt Dumba – The 7th overall pick in 2012 broke out this season, scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 81 games. He averaged just under 17 minutes per game. Dumba was also solid for Canada’s gold-medal-winning squad at the World Championships. The Wild should be able to get him under contract for a bridge deal and let him prove himself before committing to a longer term deal.
Other RFAs: G Darcy Kuemper, C Jordan Schroeder, W Jason Zucker, and C Zac Dalpe
Key UFAs: None
Other UFAs: RW David Jones, RW Justin Fontaine, C Jarret Stoll, LW Ryan Carter, LW Chris Porter
Outlook: Bruce Boudreau is taking over the head coaching job. The former Ducks and Capitals coach has had tremendous success in the regular season, but has been unable to translate that to a Stanley Cup. The former member of the WHA’s Minnesota Fighting Saints has lead his teams to 8 division titles in 10 seasons as a head coach.
The Wild may look to trade or buy out inconsistent winger Thomas Vanek this summer. Vanek is entering the last year of his contract, worth $6.5MM per season. A buyout would cost the Wild $1.5MM this season and $2.5MM next season. Vanek was a healthy scratch at times last season, but did score 41 points last season. The Wild may want to keep their powder dry and hope he bounces back.
Minnesota will look to add some more offence this off-season. Possible targets include big center David Backes or St. Paul-native Kyle Okposo.
The Wild have 4 selections in the 2016 draft, and two of them are 7th round picks. Besides the 15th overall pick, the Wild have their own fourth and seventh round picks and the Panthers seventh from the Sean Bergenheim trade.
Rugged winger Alex Tuch, the team’s 18th overall pick in 2014, is leaving Boston College and will begin playing pro. He’ll likely see time with the Iowa Wild in the AHL.